Moisture for the gummed portion of envelopes, postage stamps, the finger of a person, and other similar uses



May 23, 1933. 5, BROWN 1,910,146

MOISTENER FOR THE GUMMED PORTION OF ENVELOPES, POSTAGE STAMPS,

THE FINGER OF A PERSON. AND OTHER SIMILAR USES Filed July 25, 1951 Patented May 23, 1933 UNITED STATES PATE T" oFricE. V

JIOISTURE non THE GUMMED ron'rron or nivvnnorns, POSTAGE 'sTAMrs; THE FINGER or A reason, AND ornna SIMILAR USES Application filed July 25, 1931. Serial No. 553,178.

This invention relates to means for moistening gummed' surfaces in a convenient manner; and for means which will not become gummed up by .adhesive matterfrom the gummed faces moistened thereby.

Among the objects of the invention is to obtain a moistener of the kind named which is easy to bring the moistening element thereof into use, and which, when the -moistening element is not in use, said element can be easily submerged in water, to cleanse the same from any particles of adhesive material which may remain thereon. An additional object is to obtain a moistener of the kind named in which the moistening element may-be readily'secured inv an operative position to successively moisten a plurality of objects before it is returned to its in-operative and submerged position. An additional objectis to obtain a moistener' from which the water contained therein may be readily removed and into which additional water may be placed, or poured, to replace the water taken therefrom. An additional object is to obtain a moistener which comprises few parts, which is economically made, which is durable, which is not liable to become broken or to get out of order; which is pleasing in appearance and which may be placed in convenient position on a desk or table. 1 1

I have illustrated a moistener embodying this in'vention in the drawing referred to, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective, with the moistening element and a guide in position to moisten the gummed portion of an envelope; with said guide indicated by broken lines in position to permit the moistening element to'be used on the gummed back of postage stamps, and the like; or for a person to moisten a finger by means of said moistening element.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the moistener illustrated in Fig. 1, taken on line 22 of said Fig. 1, viewed as indicated by arrows;

with the moistening element thereof and associated parts in the position'illustrated in Fig. 1; said moistening element and associated parts indicated by broken linesas submerged in water.

And Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of a portion of the top of the moistener removed from the body-portion thereof, showing the moistening element and some of the-associated parts. v a l reference character applied to designate a glven part indicates .saidpart throughout the'several figures of the drawing, wherever the same appears.

1 represents the body'portion of the moistene'r, which comprises a bottom, sides and ends. 2 represents the top'or cover of body portion 1'. 3 represents the depending edges of said top or cover 2. '4 represents a rectangular opening in top or cover. 2; and 5 a circular opening in said top. The" upper edges of the sides of the body portion are respectively provided'with a notch, 6, (see Fig. 2).: 7 represents a shaft theends of which are seated in notches 6. 8 represents a wheel or disk which is mounted on shaft 7 The peripheral surface of'disk 8 is knurled, as is represented at '9, Fig. 1. One side of "the disk or wheel 8 is provided with an aperture or hole 10, for the purpose hereinafter set forth. .11 represents a vertical spindle, which is rotatably mounted'in an aperture provided therefor in top 2, and the hub like abutment 2, (see Fig. 2). 12 represents a cross-member which is rigidly mounted on the lower end of spindlell. 13 represents a thumb wheel which is rigidly mounted on the upper end of spindle 11; and 14 repre-' sents a guide which'is also rigidly mounted on spindle11, adjacent to thumb wheel 13. 15 represents a coiled spring which is looselylmounted on spindle 11 between guide 14 and the top surfaceof top or cover 2. 16

representsa catch which preferably consists of sheet metal or celluloid provided with an aperture adjacent to one end, said aperture fitting loosely on spindle 11, and thereby said guide is rotatably mounted on said spindle. Guide 14: is in spaced relation to the moistening element hereinafter described. and catch 16 rests on the 11 per face of top or cover 2. 17 represents a ngeron the free end of catch 16, and said'fingeris adapted, when the catch is turned around spindle 11, into the position illustrated in- Figs-1 and 2, to engage'with aperture or hole 10 in the side of knurled wheel or disk 8, said knurled wheel being in the position in which it is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, and maintain said wheel in said position. 18 represents a groove across the lower end of the hub like abutment 2'. I

When spindle 11, member 12, thumb wheel 13 and guide 14 are in the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2,said member 12 is in groove 18; and when said members are.

turned so that guide 14 is in the, position rigidly secured thereto.

The member 21 is provided with bends 22, 23 and the ends 24 thereof extend into andv are firmly secured in apertures in disk or wheel 8, said apertures extending in from the periphery of said wheel. easily make said apertures for ends 24, I remove a small portion of disk or wheel 8, as is indicated by line 8, Figs. 2 and 3.

X, Fig. 2, represents water in body portion 1.

I prefer to make the body portion 1 and top or cover 2, of dark colored glass; although I have heretofore made said parts of cast metal, with the outer faces thereof finished, nickled and polished. When said parts are made of glass the cover or top 2 may besecured on the body portion 1 by ordinary sealing wax; although the depending edges 3, of said top or cover, may be made to fit sufficiently close to the body portion to prevent accidental displacement thereof.

When-the member 16 is moved around the spindle. 11 to remove the free end thereof from apertureor hole 10, the cylinder 19 will fall by gravity into substantially the position indicated by broken lines in Fig. 2, and be submerged in the water in said body portion of the moistener. As said cylinder 19 falls'into the water the disk Sis turned on shaft 7 When it is desired to again use the moistening element the disk or wheel 8 is readily turned by means of the finger or hand on the knurling 9, back into the position in which it is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. When the gummed portion of an envelope is to be moistened said gummed portion may be passed underneath the guide 14, which will press said gummed portion with sufficient force against the upper face or end of the fibrous or spongy ma- .terial21 to properly moisten said gummed portion. I

In order to I find, in practice, when the gummed side of postage stamps, (or a finger) is desired to be moistened, it can be conveniently done by turning the guide 14 into substantially the position indicated by broken lines in Fig. 1. i I

' WVhenthe moistener element is in the position illustrated by full lines in Figs. 1 and 2, a plurality of moisteningsmay be made without submergingthe fibrous or spongy material in the water; but said submerging isefi'ected easily as often as desired in the manner hereinbefor'e set forth.

I do not limit myself to the precise shape or size of the moistener element, 1920, which is illustrated, as it is evident that a large sized embodiment of the invention may be made in whichthe moistener element may be as large as the gummed portion of an envelope, and may be rectangular in its portion of the device, to submerge said moistener element after each envelope is moistened. I find that the moistening of the envelope beyond the gummed Iportion' thereof is not detrimental; on the contrary, such additional moisteningsoftensthe flap of the envelope so that said .flap is more easily made to lay flat on the body of the envelope.

When the moistener is made to operateas last above set forth the guide 14 is made substantially as large as the moistener element, and said guide may be made to remain rigidly in place, and does not require to be made movable as is hereinbefore described;

It is also evident, that a lever maybe substituted for thewheelor disk 8; or may be attached to said wheel or disk, if desired.

I claim: 1 f

1. In a moistener, a body portion adapted tocontain water and a cover to' said body portion, in combination with a moistening element movable from a submerged position to an operable positlon, means to control the position of said moistening element and a movable guide adapted to co-act with said moistening element, when said moistening element is in an operable position. I

2. In a moistener, a body portion adapted said moistener element movable to be submerged in water contained in said body portion. v

3. In a moistener, a body portion adapted to contain water, a cover to said body portion, said cover provided with a plurality of apertures, in combination with a moistener movable to extend into and a portion thereof through one of said apertures, and said moistener element movable to be submerged in water contained in said body portion, and means extending into and partially through an additional one of said apertures to control the position of said moistener element mechanism to maintain said moistener in position extending through said aperture, and a guide in spaced relation to said moistener element when said moistener element is in its said aperture.

4. In a moistener, a body portion adapted to contain water, a cover to said body portion, said cover provided with a plurality of apertures, a shaft, a wheel on said shaft and a moistener element, in combination with a connect-ion between said moistener element and said wheel, a portion of said wheel extending through one of said apertures and a portion of said moistener element extendible through the remaining aperture, said wheel turnable to submerge said moistener element in water contained in said body portion, means attachable to said wheel to maintain said moistener in position extending partially through said aperture. i

5. In a moistener, a body portion adapted to contain water, a cover to said body portion, a hub-like abutment on the under side of said cover, an aperture through said 7 cover and said abutment, and a plurality of additional apertures in said cover, in combination with a shaft, a rotatable wheel on said shaft, a moistener element, a connection between moistener element and said wheel,

a portion of said Wheel and a portion of said moistener element extending through said additional apertures, a spindle, said spindle extending through the one of said apertures which extends through said cover and abutment, and turnable therein, and a guide on said spindle.

6. In a moistener, a body portion adapted to contain water, a cover to said body portion, a hub-like abutment on the under side of said cover, an aperture through said cover and said abutment, and a plurality of additional apertures in said cover, in combination with a shaft, a rotatable wheel on said shaft, a moistener element, a connection between said moistener element and said wheel, a portion of said wheel and a portion of said moistener element extending through said additional apertures, a spindle, said spindle extending through the one of said apertures which extends through said cover and abutment and turnable therein, a guide on said spindle and a catch mounted on said spindle and adapted to engage with-said wheel to maintain said wheel and said moistener element with portions thereof, respectively, extending through said additional apertures. 7. A body portion-adapted to contain water, a cover to saidbody portion, an abutment on the under sideof said cover,=said abutment provided with a groove on the lower end thereof, "an aperture extending through said cover and through said abutment, and a plurality of additional apertures in said cover, in combination with a shaft, a wheel on said shaft, a portion of said wheel extending through one of said additional apertures, and a moistener element, a connection between said moistener element and said wheel, a portion of said moistener element extendible through the remaining one of said additional apertures through said cover, a spindle extending through and turnable in the aperture which extends through said cover and abutment, a guide rigidly mounted on said spindle, and a member adapted to fit in said groove rigidly mounted on the lower end of said spindle, and a spring mounted on said spindle between said guide and said cover.

8. A body portion adapted to. contain water, a cover to said body portion, an abutment on the under side of said cover, said abutment provided with a groove on the lower end thereof, an aperture extending through said cover and through said abut-' ment, and a plurality of additional apertures in said cover, in combination with a shaft, a wheel on said shaft, said wheel provided with a hole on one side thereof, a portion of said wheel extending through one of said additional apertures, and a moistener element, a connection between said moistener element and said wheel, a portion of said moistener element extendible through the remaining one of said additional apertures, a spindle extending through and turnable in the aperture which extends through said cover and abutment, a guide rigidly mounted on said spindle, and a member adapted to fit in said groove rigidly mounted on the lower end of said spindle, and a spring mounted on said spindle between said guide and said cover, and a catch on said spindle movable to engage the free end thereof with said hole on one side of said wheel.

9. In a moistener,a body portion adapted to contain water, a cover to said body portion, an abutment on the under side of said cover, said cover provided with a plurality of apertures therethrough, one of said apertures extending through said abutment, a rotatably mounted wheel and a moistener element, a portion of said wheel extending through one of said apertures, a connection between said moistener element and said wheel, and a portion of said moistener element extendible through an additional one of saidplurality of apertures, in combination with a spindle extending through the aperture in said cover which extends through said abutment, a guide rigidly mounted on said spindle and means to main tain said Wheel and moistener element in determined positions.

STEWART BROWN. 

